IN OUR LIFE time we have experienced many firsts, haven’t we? First birthdays; first day of school; first day on the job; first in line; first tooth; first pair of glasses; first time behind the wheel; first bank account; first child and the list goes on and on and on! Coming from a large family of 14 children, each time I lose a sibling, it is like the first time because each one of them were unique. They came packaged entirely different in every way! This last year I lost my oldest sister Jean. She would have been 92 this month!
MOST TIMES we are only concerned with how we feel the first time we experience Christmas without someone, whom we have cherished and loved. Most times we feel their absence more during the Christmas celebration than we thought we would. When considering the promises of God, we should feel a little excitement about the possibility, of their first Christmas in heaven!
I HAVE TO ADMIT I never thought of my loved ones spending Christmas in heaven. I just knew they experienced their first day in heaven! Could there be any difference? Since there is no morning or night; everyday in God’s presence seemed good enough to me. To ponder Christmas in Heaven caused me to look on the internet. Many others thought about this and even wrote about it. One was by a 13 year old boy named Ben who died from a brain tumor in 1997. The other was by Anonymous who obviously was a seasoned Christian with maturity. Both were filled with glorious insights into the promises of God.
IT IS ALMOST SIX years since my brother Lynn passed away. At that time I asked Jim to write something that I could use in my blog; this is what he wrote:
CHRISTMAS IN HEAVEN!
“There’s a birthday party in the heavenly realms, where the saints of God and the angels dwell. They’ve gathered around the King of Kings where they listen to the heavenly choir sing.
They sing the songs about the birth of Christ, they sing the songs about eternal life and the message they sing is one of love; that is sent from God above.
They celebrate the birthday of the Son of God, the day they call Christmas, where He once trod. Merry Christmas they say on the earth below, but they’ve seen nothing till they see the show, when the angels sing and choir joins in for the One who saves mankind from sin.
It’s Christmas in heaven and for some it’s the first; who recently lived their last day on earth. What a joy for them, they’ve been set free; to dwell with Jesus eternally. Along with Him, there’s Peter and Paul and John and James, and that’s not all; there’s brothers and sisters who’ve gone before; also husbands, wives, Moms and Dads, who’ve entered the door.
What a joy for them, those newly arrived; to sing to Him who gave them life. And best of all, they’ve all been given, the joy of their first Christmas in heaven!”
“HE WILL WIPE away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away. And He who sat upon the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” Revelation 21:4-5a
I read a commentary at the end of this passage; “The Bible opens with man in the Garden of Eden in happiness and contentment. It ends with man in the new Jerusalem where he is again happy and content!
WE WEEP because we love; we sob because we miss; we look toward the heavens in anticipation; because we know we will meet again! Meanwhile, let’s remember to enjoy those who still surround us with their love. Let’s remember Christ did not come to cause us sorrow, but to bring us happiness from above. God bless you all as you remember the birth of our Lord!
Jane Ann Crenshaw (Blog from 12/17/10 updated ) 12-7/15
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